Seed weighing and transport tender

Abstract

A combination seed and yield cart is provided for transporting seed to and from the field. The cart includes a hopper with at least one seed compartment and legs for supporting the hopper on a support surface. A load cell is mounted adjacent each of the hopper legs. The hopper is adapted to be removably mounted on a trailer. The load cells are operative when the hopper is mounted on the trailer or on any other support surface. The load cells are free from rotational torque such that the cart can be moved at safe speeds of 50 m.p.h. or more.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A seed weighing and transport device, comprising: 
       a trailer adapted to be hitched to a vehicle;  
       a hopper removably mounted on the trailer, the hopper having at least one compartment for holding seeds, an auger for removing seeds from the compartment, and a plurality of legs;  
       a weighing system removably mounted on the trailer and sandwiched between the trailer and the hopper to weigh the seed in the hopper when the hopper and the weighing system are in a trailer mounted position; and  
       the weighing system adapted to weigh the seed in the hopper when the weighing system and the hopper arc removed from the trailer.  
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the weighing system includes a plurality of load cells with one load cell being adjacent each leg of the hopper. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  wherein the hopper includes a frame extending between the legs and the load cells are mounted on the frame. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3  wherein the frame is adjustably mounted to the trailer. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein the hopper has two compartments for seed. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1  wherein the weighing system is free from rotational torque when the trailer and hopper are moved by the vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein the hopper is laterally and longitudinally adjustable with respect to the trailer. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  wherein the trailer includes laterally extending slots and the hopper includes longitudinally extending slots, with pairs of the lateral and longitudinal slots overlapping to receive bolts and thereby allow adjustable mounting of the hopper on the trailer. 
     
     
       9. A combination seed and yield cart for transporting seed to and from a field, comprising: 
       a hopper with at least one seed compartment and a plurality of legs for supporting the hopper;  
       a load cell mounted adjacent each leg of the hopper;  
       a trailer adapted to be towed by a vehicle;  
       hopper being removably mounted on the trailer; and  
       the load cells being operative when the hopper is mounted on the trailer and when the hopper is removed from the trailer and sitting on another support surface.  
     
     
       10. The cart of  claim 9  wherein the load cells are free from rotational torque. 
     
     
       11. The cart of  claim 9  wherein the hopper includes mounting brackets for adjustably mounting the hopper on the trailer. 
     
     
       12. The cart of  claim 9  wherein the hopper and the trailer both include slots which extend perpendicular to one another and overlap so as to receive mounting bolts to adjustably secure the hopper on the trailer. 
     
     
       13. The cart of  claim 9  wherein the load cells are fixed to the hopper for movement with the hopper when the hopper is removed from the trailer. 
     
     
       14. The cart of  claim 9  wherein the trailer includes an axle with wheels, the load cells being spaced from the axle so as to preclude any rotational torque on the load cells. 
     
     
       15. A combination seed and yield cart for transporting seed to and from a field comprising: 
       a chassis adapted to be towed by a vehicle;  
       a hopper adapted to be removably attached to the chassis, the hopper having at least one compartment for holding seed, an auger for removing seed from the compartment, and a plurality of legs; and  
       a weighing system mounted to the hopper capable of weighing the seed when the hopper is attached to the chassis and when the hopper is removed from the chassis.  
     
     
       16. The combination seed and yield cart of  claim 15  wherein the hopper includes a frame extending between the legs and the weighing system is mounted on the frame. 
     
     
       17. The combination seed and yield cart of  claim 16  wherein the weighing system is free from rotational torque when the chassis and hopper are moved by the vehicle.